Spring-washer



(No Model.)

S. W. WALES.

SPRING WASHER.

No. 425,476. Patented Apr. 15,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT union.

SIMEON W. ALES, OFNORTH ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-WASH ER.

SPEGIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 425,476, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed January 16, 1890. Serial No. 337,122. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

vide a metallic spring-washer of novel construction, which is adapted to be secured to the axle-box or hub of carriages, and, if desired, to the usual axle-nut, to take uplateral motion and prevent rattle.

My improved spring-washer may be made from a circular metallic blank or ring, preferably of sheetsteel, by cutting or splitting the said blank and folding a portion of the said blank back upon itself to form a substantially semicircular washer, consisting of a base and a spring-arm integral with said base.

My invention therefore consists, essentially, of a metallic spring-washer, it consisting of a base and a spring-arm folded back upon the base and integral therewith, substantially as will be described.

Figure 1, in elevation, represents a metallic springwvasher embodying my invention. Fig. 2, in section and elevation, represents a sufficient portion of a carriage-axle and its box or hub and nut provided with my improved spring-washer to enable my invention to be understood; and Fig. 8, an end view of the nut removed, showing the springwasher in operative position.

The axle a, threaded at its end, as at a, and provided at its opposite ends with the usual shoulder a and the axle-box or hub a may be of any usual or well-known construction.

In accordance with my invention the axlebox or hub a is provided with a metallic spring-washer, which may be'made substantially as shown in Fig. 1, it consisting of a fiat substantially semicircular base I) and a spring-arm b, forming an integral part of the base Z), the said spring-arm being formed by folding or bending it back upon the base I).

In practice the spring-washer may be placed within the axle-box or hub a by springing its ends together, so that when the pressure is released and the springwasher is within the box it is automatically retained in position by the normal spring-action of the metal.

The metallic spring-washer is placed within the axle-box, so that the sprin -arm Z) bears against the shoulder a and as a result keeps the axle-box firmly pressed against its seat at its opposite end, which in the present instance is shown as a second spring-washer placed within the nut 5 screwed upon the threaded portion a of the axle.

My improved metallic spring washer is very simple in construction, is cheap, and yet very effective in operation, as it takes up the end-play or lateral motion of the aXle-boX and prevents rattle.

Furthermore, the metallic spring-washer is automatically retained in place within the axle-box or the nut b when the said parts are removed from the axle, so that it is always in operative position when the axle-box or hub are placed upon the axle.

By forming the spring-arm so that it extends but part way back on the base I) of the spring-washer any dirt or grit which may become lodged on the said arm will work off of it in the revolution of the axle-box, and onto the base Z), thus preventing the said dirt from becoming lodged between the base and the arm, and thereby preventing the spring action of the said arm from being destroyed.

It will be noticed that the spring-arm b bears against the shoulders (4 and consequently the friction between the said surfaces is largely reduced, owing to the small amount of surface in contact.

I prefer to make the sprin g-washer of sheet metal; but I do not desire to limit myself in this respect, as the said washer might be made of steel wire.

I claim- The herein described metallic spring- Washer,it consisting of a base I) and a springarm I), folded back upon the base and integral therewith, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIMEON \V. ALES.

Vitnesses:

JAS. H. CHURCHILL, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

